In a major development, Maharashtra government on Friday transferred Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi amid rising coronavirus cases in Mumbai. Iqbal Chahal, who is currently the principal secretary at urban development department, will take over as the new municipal commissioner of Mumbai. Along with Pardeshi, two more additional commissioners have been transferred.

Sanjeev Jaiswal, the former Thane Municipal Commissioner has been appointed as the new additional commissioner of BMC replacing present incumbent Abasaheb Jarhad, who will take over as Relief and Rehabilitation Secretary. He will replace Kishoreraje Nimbalkar, who has been transferred as the Public Works Department Secretary.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation former Managing Director Ashwini Bhide will also take over as additional municipal commissioner in the Mumbai civic body, replacing Jayshree Bhoj to the post. Bhide had earlier been sent on a special assignment to the BMC to help with coronavirus pandemic.

The sudden development came a days after the civic body was dragged under the spotlight for mismanagement at hospitals handling with COVID-19 patients.

On Thursday afternoon, a video shot at the Sion Hospital - administered by the civic body - went viral showing corpses of COVID-19 victims lying on the bed next to the patients infected with the coronavirus. The unfortunate sight forced that government to take strict action. The authorities took the cognisance of the clip and asked the BMC to submit a report within 24 hours.

Several Maharashtra cities including Mumbai, Pune continue to be worst-hit clusters. The state is worst affected in India and has recorded as many as 17,970 cases to date. As of now, 3301 people have recovered and been discharged from hospitals while 994 patients succumbed to the deadly disease.